In Wuxi, Jiangsu Province in eastern China, an event at the airport’s departure hall turned hurried foot traffic into a pause for traditional opera and live music, as passengers raised their phones to record the moments. The staged performances gave the busy terminal an unexpectedly festive and leisurely air.

Nearby intangible heritage booths showcased local crafts and edible traditions: Yixing purple-clay teapots, lively clay figurines, finely carved Liuqing bamboo pieces, as well as pear-syrup candy and other pastries. These displays offered passing travelers a taste of the region’s craftsmanship and flavours, along with a chance to take home a small Wuxi memory.

Many travelers were urban workers and migrant labourers—people who live and work in the city but come from other towns—joining a mass return to their hometowns to reunite with family for Chinese New Year. Chunyun, the Spring Festival travel season, refers to this temporary, large-scale migration. Often called the largest periodic human migration in history, it underscores the cultural importance of family reunions for millions.